Kansas Senate Majority Leader Released From Jail

By Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector

March 16, 2021

TOPEKA — Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop was booked into Shawnee County Jail early Tuesday for alleged traffic violations and released after a judge determined there wasn’t probable cause to support criminal charges.

Suellentrop was arrested after driving the wrong direction on Interstate 70 near downtown Topeka, the Associated Press reported.

The Republican from Wichita was booked into jail at 3:55 a.m. in connection with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, speeding, improper crossover on a divided highway, and improper driving.

The Kansas City Star reported Suellentrop was released from jail following a 10:30 a.m. first appearance in district court, where a judge determined “pertinent information” was missing from the arrest report.

Suellentrop served in the Kansas House from 2009 to 2016 and has served in the Senate since 2017. Senate Republicans chose him as their majority leader after the November elections.

Check back for updates as this story develops.